However, the knife-wielding man who made the threat was killed after verbal commands and the use of a Taser failed to stop his threatening advances. All indications point to proper procedure being followed. Nonetheless, within hours, a media-seeking city councilman immediately started criticizing the responding officers and blaming them for the man's death. The councilman stated further: "No one...would kill a cop when all they had was a 4-inch knife."
He couldn't have been more wrong.
| Officer Gary Coe |
Since the earliest days of American law enforcement, edged weapons have posed a real and deadly threat to officers patrolling our streets and supervising inmates in our prisons. To dismiss a "4-inch knife" as a non-threat and to criticize officers for defending themselves from getting stabbed is extremely naive.
I am extremely thankful that Sunday's incident didn't add any more names of stabbing victims to the NYPD Memorial Wall at Battery Park.
| Watchman Christian Luswanger | Thursday, December 25, 1806 |
| New York City Watch, NY | |
| Watchman Lewis L. Leuba | Wednesday, April 13, 1836 |
| New York City Watch, NY | |
| Watchman Kim Hudson | Sunday, August 28, 1836 |
| New York City Watch, NY | |
| Sergeant Michael Foster | Monday, August 4, 1851 |
| New York Municipal Police Force, NY | |
| Patrolman David Gourley | Sunday, November 5, 1854 |
| New York Municipal Police Force, NY | |
| Patrolman Stephen P. Hardenbrook | Wednesday, April 15, 1857 |
| New York Municipal Police Force, NY | 3 years |
| Patrolman David Martin | Tuesday, August 6, 1861 |
| New York Metropolitan Police Force, NY | |
| Patrolman Robert S. McChesney | Saturday, October 19, 1867 |
| New York Metropolitan Police Force, NY | 2 months |
| Patrolman Charles Thompson | Sunday, December 1, 1867 |
| New York Metropolitan Police Force, NY | |
| Sergeant James McGiven | Monday, July 24, 1876 |
| New York Municipal Police Department, NY | |
| Patrolman James North | Friday, August 21, 1885 |
| New York Municipal Police Department, NY | |
| Patrolman John J. Sherman | Tuesday, September 1, 1891 |
| New York Police Department, NY | 5 years |
| Patrolman Robert J. Thorpe | Monday, August 13, 1900 |
| New York City Police Department, NY | |
| Patrolman Charles L. Horn | Monday, October 8, 1900 |
| New York City Police Department, NY | 5 years |
| Sergeant Joseph H. McNierney | Friday, October 3, 1913 |
| New York City Police Department, NY | 18 years |
| Patrolman Leroy J. Sheares | Monday, April 20, 1936 |
| New York City Police Department, NY | 3 years |
| Sergeant Edward J. Johnson Jr. | Friday, January 8, 1960 |
| New York City Police Department, NY | 11 years |
| Patrolman Anthony F. Campisi | Friday, November 4, 1966 |
| New York City Police Department, NY | |
| Patrolman Lawrence Stefane | Thursday, May 28, 1970 |
| New York City Police Department, NY | 3 years |
| Probationary Patrolman Patrick M. Canavan | Monday, September 7, 1970 |
| New York City Police Department, NY | 2 months |
| Patrolman Michael W. Paolillo | Wednesday, September 23, 1970 |
| New York City Police Department, NY | |
| Patrolman Robert L. Denton | Saturday, July 24, 1971 |
| New York City Police Department, NY | 2 years |
| Police Officer Gary C. Coe | Saturday, November 11, 1989 |
| New York City Police Department, NY | 4 years |
| Detective Jaime Betancourt | Sunday, March 31, 2002 |
| New York City Police Department, NY | 9 years |
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ReplyDeleteThank you for informing others of the very real threat of knives and other potentially deadly weapons our Officers face daily. As the wife of a 22 year veteran Officer/Sergeant, it is heart-breaking to see how the media portrays Officers out there protecting THEM and everyone else. If the suspect had been holding only a "4 inch knife" to the council members throat, you'd better believe he would be all for taking out the suspect! As the holidays approach and people are home with their families, warm and cozy, I hope they take a moment to be thankful that men and women are out on the streets, away from their families, keeping THEM safe. And maybe even think of the families of those Officers, who are without their loved ones, yet again through the holidays, because they are out keeping the streets safe.
ReplyDeleteHow many people were killed by a few determined individuals armed with box cutters on 9/11 Mr. Coucilman? They are even less than 4 inches in length.
ReplyDeleteI hate when people run off the mouth like this idiot councilman. He needs to resign.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of those situations where one has to consider the SOURCE....
ReplyDeleteIt goes with the territory. When Gov. David Patterson was a representative. He backed a move to require officers to shoot for the arm or leg rather than center of mass. There are a lot of un-educated politicians who really only want to get in front of a camera and get a vote. Sad.
ReplyDeleteNew York City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez is an idiot to stand next to the deceased mother and accuse cops of wrongdoing when he, himself, was accused of forcibly touching a female staffer, and barked about people making hurtful accusations that could tarnish reputations. Here is a link to the audio of the 911 call: http://www.nydailynews.com/video/index.html?eCode=1haDJ5Ohij8jJOnRkV5qeTMgTSGL7luj&dCode=BnbnlxMToQC2V8uq8lJ9otUE8SRX7kJt
ReplyDeletePeople like the councilman need to be put in a room with someone who just wants to kill. Give that perosn a 4" knife and lets see what happens. My guess, after the first one or two are killed, the others see the horrific sight of gaping flesh and blood, pretty sure they will call the police and whatever it takes to stop the person....they will be thankful. Until they talk to the media.............disgraceful!!!!
ReplyDeleteGod bless all police officers worldwide.
ReplyDelete